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Sunday, February 22, 2026
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Book Excerpts

Why many Japanese people struggle to explain if they’re Shinto or Buddhist

In 'Eight Million Ways to Happiness', Hiroko Yoda reveals the traditions that infuse Japan's culture, from Shinto, Buddhism, and the mountain mysticism of Shugendo.

Ambedkar and RSS had the same stand on many issues—UCC, Article 370, gram panchayat elections

In 'My Idea of Nation First', Uday Mahurkar offers a nationalist view on Indian history.

How jatra female impersonator Chapal Bhaduri brought Chand Bibi to life—his first lead role

In 'Chapal Rani, the Last Queen of Bengal', Sandip Roy traces the career of Bengali stage actor Chapal Bhaduri and his struggle for artistic identity in a changing world.

How Masaba curated her ‘Hot Mess’ persona

In 'Stories We Wear', Shefalee Vasudev examines how appearance becomes a medium of identity, belonging, and resistance.

Birla, Dalmia earned surpluses during World War 1—India’s derivatives trade has a long history

Adil Rustomjee's 'Running Behind Lakshmi' is a wide-ranging account that combines analytical history, financial practice, and market lore.

Hamid Ansari’s 5 big ideas for foreign policy

'Arguably Contentious' by M Hamid Ansari explores India's political, social, and cultural realities in an era of rapid change.

Goan bakers brought bread to Mumbai. Then passed the mantle to Iranians

In her book, 'In the Beginning There Was Bombay Duck', Pronoti Datta offers a colourful, cosmopolitan food history of Mumbai.

What Mughal and British rule did to India’s forests

In 'An Officer and a Tiger', Yogesh Chandra offers a sensory portrait of the Terai jungles in their full, untamed splendour.

My married life with Rajendra Yadav began with a bizarre rupture: Mannu Bhandari

In 'This Too Is a Story', trailblazing Hindi writer Mannu Bhandari lays bare the faultlines of her controversial marriage to Rajendra Yadav.

Why do women only date men who earn more than them

Harshveer Jain's 'Putting the Toilet Seat Down' is a no-gyaan, no-judgement guide for anyone who is curious (or confused) about feminism. Or for anyone who wants to unlearn their biases.

On Camera

Nick Jonas wearing a mangalsutra is validation for many Indians. He’s our favourite jiju

Nick Jonas is not trying to modernise the mangalsutra, but his gesture shows that choices can be equal. If commitment must be flaunted, it need not be gendered.

In the West, there’s anxiety. In India, optimism—Rishi Sunak says India poised to be leader in AI

On Wednesday, the former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was speaking in New Delhi at a Carnegie & Observer Research Foundation event on AI.

Suspected brake failure leads to Tejas accident after landing, airframe likely to be written off

The IAF, so far, remains mum on this accident which has led to grounding of the fleet for safety checks.

No country is ever fully sovereign. Cold War era taught India its real meaning

India’s fraught neighbourhood places multiple constraints on its strategic choices. It leaves no time to take a deep breath, lean back and reset.